Brighton & Hove Albion have reached an agreement to sign Nigeria international winger Femi Azeez from Millwall, in a deal that could rise beyond £15 million with performance-related add-ons.
The 25-year-old enjoyed a standout campaign for the Lions last season, netting 11 goals and setting up eight more in 37 appearances, form that earned him a spot in the PFA Championship team of the year. That impressive output appears to have accelerated his path to the top flight, with Brighton having seen at least three previous offers turned down by Millwall before finally striking an agreement.
The transfer represents a landmark moment for Millwall, who will collect an initial £12.5 million for Azeez, a figure that stands as a club record sale once any additional clauses are triggered. The winger had joined the London club from Reading for roughly £1 million back in 2024 and was in the middle of a contract that had two years remaining.
Despite his quality, Azeez had fallen out of favour under manager Alex Neil in recent weeks, being omitted from the matchday squad for Millwall's last three fixtures. That situation, combined with his evident desire to test himself in the Premier League, appears to have paved the way for his exit. Wrexham had also been credited with interest in the player, though it is Brighton who have won the race for his signature.
Azeez's arrival continues what has been an extraordinarily busy transfer window for the Seagulls. He becomes the club's 11th new addition of the summer, following a series of notable moves that include the club-record £45 million signing of Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Luka Vuskovic. Brighton have been able to fund such ambitious spending partly through significant outgoing sales, most notably Carlos Baleba's £70 million departure to Manchester United. The club could see further funds generated this window, with Liverpool reportedly showing interest in winger Yankuba Minteh.
Azeez's move to the Amex is also set to have a knock-on effect within Brighton's squad. With another attacking option now incoming, winger Amario Cozier-Duberry — who recently agreed a new contract at the club — is expected to be sent out on loan for further first-team experience. The 21-year-old impressed during a loan spell at Bolton Wanderers in League One last season and now looks set to join Championship side Middlesbrough.
At Middlesbrough, Cozier-Duberry appears poised to fill the void left by Morgan Whittaker, who is expected to depart for Major League Soccer outfit Colorado Rapids. The chain of moves illustrates the wider knock-on effects of Brighton's summer spending spree, as clubs across the divisions adjust their squads in response to the Seagulls' continued recruitment drive.
For Millwall, the sale of Azeez, while painful from a footballing perspective, provides a substantial financial boost and underlines the growing trend of Championship clubs profiting from developing talent that eventually earns a move to the Premier League. Brighton, meanwhile, continue to build a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts, adding another dynamic wide player to bolster their attacking options for the season ahead.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.